Year number two, in review.

Dear Kieran,

Your second year of life has been filled with so many changes and surprises. We sold our first home in Jefferson City in October and moved in with grandma and grandpa. You loved living there, lots of space to run, plenty of toys and of course your grandparent's love. After six months though, of living in their basement, we were all ready for our own space again.

 On March 12th, on your 2nd birthday, we moved into your our new home, at 111 Brian Lane in Ashland. You have been adjusting beautifully to your new surroundings and seem completely settled in after only two weeks. You went from sleeping in the the same room with us, and often times in our bed, to your own bed in your own room. You love the open floor plan and do laps from the dining room, living room and kitchen at break-neck speeds. We are excited to get the yard grassed and fenced and spend lots of time outside this summer with you and the dogs.

The first night we slept in the new house, we converted your crib to a toddler bed, taking off one of the sides, because you had begun climbing out of your crib and we worried you would hurt yourself. I fretted that you wouldn't be able to sleep in such new and different circumstances, but you put my mind at ease the first night and slept soundly in your own big boy bed in your very own room! I still wake up at night and sneak into your room to check on you, and although sometimes you are sleeping on the floor or half in and out of your bed, you are soundly asleep and wake well rested and ready to go.

Your vocabulary has really taken off the last couple months and it is fun to hear what's on your mind! Some of your newer words include: High up top, train, wheels, tracks, top-top (helicopter), bear, ice, bum-bum (snowman), stop, go, run, play, pet, doot-doot (car), eyes, ears, nose, hair, hat, ewwws!, and bubble. You put together little sentences, such as "Stop it mom!", "I eat!", "Out of the way!" and "I want that!" or "I don't want that!" You are great at sound effects, such as screeching breaks, crash sounds and train/car noises. You also make so many animal sounds, better than mommy in fact! You get frustrated with us when we don't understand what you want, but every day you say more and more and we understand you better and better. Keep talking little one, we love to your sweet little voice and want to know what you're thinking!

Your motor skills, fine and gross, are improving in leaps and bounds every day. You may have been slow to walk, but you have made up for that by running- everywhere and you are very fast! You climb like a little monkey, which is why the crib had to go. You are a little daredevil, throwing yourself over the sofas and climbing up slides at the playground. You have mastered utensils and prefer them more and more to your fingers. You stack small blocks with ease and string large beads. You brush your teeth like a big boy and have discovered how to open doors far too easily- leading to more baby proofing on our part!

You spend your week days at Tori's house with her twin four year old children, Spencer and Luke. You seem to like it there, although still fuss when mommy leaves. You play trucks and cars with Luke and love the girl's huge pink doll house. You usually take good naps for Tori and eat like a champ, better than you do for mommy and daddy. When I come to pick you up in the afternoon, you run to the door, arms spread wide, yelling "Mama!!". It's the best part of my day. Next year we will send you to a Montessori preschool, but first we will have to get you ready this summer which means time to potty-train!

Kieran it has been so much fun watching you grow from an infant into a busy toddler. You are constantly on the go and keep us on our toes. You seem to be developing a temperament similar to your mothers, strong willed, persistent and loud! You look like your father more and more theses days with your intense blue-gray eyes. You have the straightest, finest, silkiest hair- could have gotten that from either one of us though ;) You make us laugh every day and try our patients pretty regularly too. When you are happy, you beam like spring sunshine and when you are mad you are a stormy little cloud that's hard to ignore. You are a lover, freely giving hugs, kisses and tickles. You love anything that goes, in particular trains. You are becoming a TV addict, something we are going to have to work on- Car's is your newest favorite show. You can't get enough outside time- whether you are pushing your giant yellow truck up and down the sidewalks or digging in the mud, you are a lover of the out of doors for sure. You are our little boy and we love you more than we could ever express in words or writing. We can't wait to see what's next, we love you Kieran.